High Nature Value farmland in Strandzha Koen De Rijck - for EFNCP / WWF-DCP Strandzha seminar, June 2007

Land use Total area of Strandzha Nature Park: about ha 80% of Strandzha NP: forest –Broad-leaf forests prevail –Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), Oak (several species)

Land use Total area of Strandzha Nature Park: ha 80% of Strandzha NP: forest –Broad-leaf forests prevail –Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), Oak (several species) –Evergreen underbrush of Strandzha rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)

Land use About 10-12% of Strandzha NP is agricultural land: –Pastures

Land use About 10-12% of Strandzha NP is agricultural land: –Pastures –Orchards –Arable land

Land ownership Private property: 54% of agricultural land or ha Temporarily managed by municipality: 35,1% or ha Municipal ownership: 7,7% or ha State ownership: 2,5% or 550 ha

Concept High Nature Value farmland are those areas in Europe where agriculture is a major (usually the dominant) land use and where that agriculture supports, or is associated with, either a high species and habitat diversity or the presence of species of European conservation concern, or both

Farmland species diversity Species directly connected to farmland: 25 – 13 mammal species – 8 birds Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), Quail (Coturnix coturnix), Corncrake (Crex crex), Sky Lark (Alauda arvensis), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), Black- headed Bunting (Emberiza malanocephala) – 4 reptiles Dione's Snake, Green Whip Snake

Farmland species diversity Species depending on extensive grassland management: 104 invertebrates and 60 vertebrates –Mammals Marbled Polecat (Mustela putorius), mole rat, Souslik (Citellus citellus), mole, shrews (Sorex spp.), mice rodents, Hamster –Birds eagles (Aquila spp.), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Little Owl (Athena noctua), Roller, Hoopoe (Upupa epops) Farmland provides food for species inhabitants of the forests, rocks and caves

Farmland species diversity Breeding niche of 9 priority mammal species, birds and reptiles and of over 100 invertebrate species of significance for conservation Provides food for more than 20 species of priority mammals and birds. Farmland in Strandzha is biotope of European significance

Typology Type 1: Farmland with a high proportion of semi-natural vegetation Type 2: Farmland dominated by low intensity agriculture or a mosaic of semi- natural and cultivated land and small-scale features Type 3: Farmland supporting rare species or a high proportion of European or world populations

High Nature Value farmland in Strandzha Koen De Rijck - for EFNCP / WWF-DCP Strandzha seminar, June 2007